KOOP Burns -- Again

KOOP is the community radio station here in Austin. (Trivia: actually, because of issues with obscure FCC rules, KOOP is identified as being from "Hornsby," a small community outside Austin.) KOOP has been in business for thirteen years, pretty much as an all-volunteer operation. Although there's a small paid staff, most of the programmers, technicians, fundraisers, etc. are volunteers. I signed up as a volunteer this fall, partly to support their work and partly to get my own radio show. As anyone who knows me is aware, I have a face made for radio.

In early 2006, KOOP had damaged by two fires at its downtown Austin location. The first occurred in the studios on January 6 (two years ago today) and knocked the station off the air for five days. The second occurred in early February, starting at a nightclub next door and destroying three buildings, including the one in which KOOP was housed.

After an uncertain period during which it broadcast from the KMFA studios on North Lamar (near McBride's Gun Shop and the conveniently next-door funeral home), KOOP moved to a new location on Airport Boulevard about a year ago. They built a new, state-of-the-art broadcasting studio, and were working on a second studio where shows and actualities could be produced. They also were rebuilding their music collection.

Today comes the bad news that a fire this morning seriously damaged the new location, knocking out the broadcast studio indefinitely. I am sure KOOP will recover from this, but it may take some time.